A full-day incursion for 40-100 x Yr 5-6 students go on a whirlwind operatic adventure. The students help write an opera story and then see it performed by professional singers on the same day!

A team of professional opera singers and musicians introduce students to the wonders of the operatic voice and help them write a new opera. The students are involved in the entire process, from writing the story to character development and design, learning how all the senses come together to make a successful opera.

The team includes singers representing all four main operatic voices: Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, and a pianist. An education pack with preparation resources (see video example below) introducing children to opera will be supplied to the school four weeks before the incursion. 

On the day, the performers will work with the students to demonstrate the voice types, discuss opera plot examples, and then get suggestions from the students on story ideas, settings, characters, props, props and costumes.

The students get split into two groups, one learning the big finale song and the other making sets and costumes. They then swap over before coming back together at the end of the day to see their opera performed based on their own stories, ideas, and designs, ending with all the students joining in for the final chorus.